Dispenser and valves for same



Dec. 22, 1964 c. F. MILLER DISPENSER AND VALVES FOR SAME Original Filed Oct. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 22, 1964 c. F. MILLER 3,162,334

DISPENSER AND vALvEs FOR SAME original Filed ocx. 7, i960 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O 6 iairns. (Cl. Z22-207) This invention relates generally to tiuid dispensers and especially to the valves used in fluid dispensers. This application is a division of Serial No. 61,273, tiled Oct. 7, 1960.

In one specific aspect, the present invention relates to dispensers for use on bottles lled with a Viscous fluid such as hand lotion.

In one modern type of fluid dispenser, check valves comprising steel balls are employed to control the passage of uid to and from a pumping element. These steel ball valves have proved to be expensive; and any corrosive action of the dispensed iiuid on the surface of the balls tends to make operation of the valve sticky in nature. Moreover, assembly of these steel ball valves in the dispensers has proved difiicult.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dispenser which overcomes the limitations of the prior art by incorporating novel plastic Valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser incorporating a one-piece member which denes two check valves.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide check valves which are easy to assemble in a dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve element which can be readily replaced in repair of the dispenser in which it is assembled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having a dripless spout.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser in which the valves are arranged for partial evacuation of the spout on the suction portion of the pumping cycle.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure, materials and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

A structure in accord with the invention includes a relatively rigid body member delining a rst iiuid passageway communicating with a primary fluid reservoir and defining a second fluid passageway separate from the first fluid passageway and communicating with an outlet for dispensing the fiuid, the second passageway being of generally annular shape and surrounding the rst passageway; a pumping member including a domed diaphragm defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicating with the rst passageway and with the second passageway; and a unitary, resinous plastic check valve-defining member including a central collar adapted to be mounted to the body member, valve means in the collar for controlling iiuid ow through the first passageway, and a deiiectable, radially extending iiange at one end of the collar delining a vane-type valve for controlling uid flow through the second passageway.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, three embodiments thereof applied to the dispensing of a viscous kliquid such as hand lotion 3,162,334 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 ice but to which the application is not to be restricted, are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a hand lotion bottle with a dispenser attached thereto, the dispenser being constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FG. 2 is an enlarged View taken through the section 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the showing of PIG. 2 illustrating the cooperation of the parts when the domed diaphragm pumping member is depressed;

FIG. 4 is a view taken through the section 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the unitary, check valve-deiining member incorporated in the dispenser of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 2 showing a dispenser incorporating a modified check valve-defining member;

FlG. 7 is a further enlarged view of the showing of FIG. 6 illustrating the cooperation of the parts when the domed diaphragm pumping member is depressed;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the check valve-defining member incorporated in the dispenser of FIG. 6;

EEG. 9 is another view similar to FIG. 2 showing a further modified embodiment of the check valve-deiining member; and

FIG. l0 is an enlarged perspective view of the check valve-defining member incorporated in the dispenser of FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIGS. 1-5, a glass bottle 20 will be seen deiining a primary reservoir for hand lotion or a similar fluid. The mouth of bottle 2t? is advantageously threaded in order that a cooperatively threaded cap 22 may be employed to closure the bottle. A dispenser indicated generally by the numeral 24 is mounted on the cap 22 in a suitable manner to extend a pump tube 26 into the lower regions of bottle 20 where it will remain in withdrawing relationship with the fluid contained within the bottle until the bottle is nearly drained of its contents.

Turning to FIG. 2, the dispenser 24 will be seen to include a relatively rigid body member 2S, a spout 30, a pumping member taking the form of a resilient, domed diaphragm 32 and a check valve-defining member 34. The body member 28 comprises a cup-shaped element having a bottom inlet 36 and a side outlet 38. 'The outlet 33 ttingly receives one end of the spout 30; and the vinlet 36 continues into the central bore of a depending stern portion dii. Stem portion 40 freely passes through a bore in cap 22 and receives the tube 26 over its free end. The stem portion 4G is advantageously arranged t0 iit loosely in the bore in cap 22 so that air may be drawn into the bottle 2i? around the stem 4th to replace the volume of fluid removed from the bottle 2@ at any one time by the dispenser 24..

Referring for the moment to FIG. 4, the body member 23 will be seen fashioned with a number of internal bosses d2 which terminate to define arcuately spaced lands d4. Spaced radially inwardly from the bosses 42 is a central, tubular column d6 which surrounds and opens into the inlet 36. In assembly of the dispenser 24, the check valve-defining member 34+ is mounted in body member 28 in cooperation with the lands 44 and column 46; and considering FIGS. 2 and 5, the valve-defining member 34 will be seen to include a central collar 4S which is arranged to'be disposed about column 46 eneaeea in gripping Vrelationship. The upper ends of collar 4S terminate in-a'radially inwardly extending, annular shoulder portion 5t) which is adapted to engage the end surface of the wall of column 46. Radially inwardly of shoulder 50, there is" an aperture 52; and radially outwardly of shoulder Si), there is a deectable flange 54 which is disposed-substantially coplanarly with the shoulder Si?. .The flange 54 defines a vane-type valve for purposes which will become more'apparent hereinafter.

From the margins of shoulder 50, there depend two diametrically arranged, generally straight, spring elements 56 formed in the shape of flatstraps; and the otherwise free. ends of spring elements 56 are joined toa conicalshaped plug valve 58, plug Avalve .58 being arranged to close off inlet 36- selectively.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the check valve-defining member 34 is fashioned as a unitary structure. Accordingly, the component parts of member 34 are integrally united by moldingl the member 34 from .a suitable, resinous plastic material. Polyolens have proved eminently useful as a material of construction for the memberi, these resinous plastics exhibiting good spring characteristics for the elements 56, additionally possessing the property of chemicalsresistance while dise playing a surface to which hand lotiony and other fluids adhere poorly.

The open end of body member' 28 is closed'oil` by the domed diaphragm pumping member 32, pumping member 32 being desirablyk heldin place by means of a metal bezel 60. The bezel 60 is slipped over theedge of the body member'ZS to be held in place frictionally. The diaphragm-32 isV fabricated from a suitable elastomer and'.

' Vdepression of diaphragm 32 yin the direction indicated by the arrow 7@ will again urge plug valve 5% to'close ofr" passageway 64 as permittedby spring relements 56. Simultaneously, the Vane-type Valve defined by flange .54 will open communication between chamber 62 and lpassageway 66 for dispensing ofthe iuidl through spout 30. Upon release of diaphragm 32, afterdispensing offfluid, the suction or vacuum created by diaphragm 32 returning to its domed condition will not only draw uid up through tube '26 and through passageway 64 but will also draw a certain amount of fluid from the-passageway 66 before the marginal edges of flange 54 seat against the marginal edges of thediaphragm.v .This slight suction in the-passageway 66l withdraws a certain amount of fiuidffrom the nozzle thereby rendering it dripless; and it is to be recognized that this dripless feature ofthe ydispenser 24 enhances its utility and desirability.

Although a speciiicembodiment of the invention has been shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 5,

Y it should be understood, ot' course, that the invention is defines a generally hemispherical chamber or secondaryreservoir 62; TheV chamber 62 opens into a passageway 64 communicating with the primary fluid reservoinspasf sageway 64 `being defined by tubular column 46, inlet 36 'andthe interconnected bores of stem 40 and tube 26. The chamber 62 also opens into a passageway which communicates to the exterior, passageway 66 being deiined by the annular space between thewalls of column 4,6 and the sidewalls of body'rnember 28 as modified by bosses 42, the outlet 38y and the bore in spout 3i). l

In the normal,y :outwardly domed vcondition of diaphragm A32, s hownin FIG. 2, the marginal edges vof flangey 54 will be seen drawn up against the marginal edges of the diaphragm 32.` Moreoventhe'plug'valve 58 israised out of contact with the edges ofV inlet 36thus opening pas,-

aperture 52 into the chamber 62.

with reference torio. 3, the diaphragme; win be seen deformed inwardly, as by finger pressure, to displace. uid from chamber 62; and as will be' noted, the pressure exerted on theA fluid within chamber 62'by depression of' the diaphragm 32l causes the marginal edgesof .ange 54 to deform dependingly out of contact with the'ma'rginal edges of diaphragm 32 between thebosses 42 establishing a duid-passing relationship thatallows fluid to be4 driven,` from the chamber 62 throughthe passageway 66y and out of the spout 30. Itv will be observed that when fluid isbeing thus dispensed through the passageway'66,

Aplug valve- 58 seats in the inlet 36 Vclosing oi Vpassageway 64 to the ilow of fluidfromchamber 62.

`Upon initialattachmentof dispenser -24'to cap 2,2', the iirstdepression of` diaphragm 32 as indicated at the arrow not limited thereto since many2 modifications may be made. For example, turning to FIGS. 6 8', there isshown a modified formjof the invention. Like numerals have beenused to designate like parts in theembodiments of FIGS. 1 5 and FIGS., 6 8, the suix letter a being used to distinguish those parts associated with the embodiment of FIGS; 6 8.

The dispenser 24a is specifically yarranged with a'rnodied check-valve-defining member 34a shown yin FIG. 8. Therethemeans for controlling iluid flow through passageway 64a will be seen to include a resiliently deformable, Vaneftypejvalve specifically comprising a pair of vanes or wings 72 fastened to a cross-rib 74l to be norlmally coplanar with ilange 54a and to be radially spacedapart from shoulder a.. The wings 72-are fashionedY to I be generally semi-circular, yrib V74 thereby being situated sageway 64 to. the Vliow of' fiuid through column 46 and as a diametrical h ingeaxis. Consideringparticularly yFIG. 7,y the vanes72 willl lbe'seen to seat onthe vend surface of tubular column 46a when diaphragm 32a is depressed, thus sealing od passageway 6411. 'On the other hand, upongthe resilientreturn of diaphragm 32a4 from a depressed condition, the wings 72 will'be raised up or drawn generally'intothecharnber 62a as shown in FIG. 6. This unseating of wings .'72 from'the end s l'irfacesV of .column 46a opens passageway 64a tothe flow off-'fluid into .chamber 62a. Y

Inrother respects, the arrangement ofFIGS. .6 8 operates'similarly to the arrangement of FIGS. 1 5.

'7G in FIG, 3 willcompress the airinchamber 62 whereby to urgejplug yvalve 58 into v'closing relationship relative Vto the inlet36 and'to urge' the marginaled'ges ofkllange 54to depend betweenbosses 42 opening the passageway 66 and allowing the air to'be forcedfromthe dispenser.l 'When the diaphragrn'32is'released, Vits inherent resiliency will cause. it to returnto its normal, domed' condition;l and as it returns toV this'k condition, vacuum wi'llbe. drawn in v chamber 62. f In response to the creation ofthis vacuum,

the-marginal edges of ange 54 wil lbe zdrawn tightlyA up A furtherr modified embodiment ofthe invention is kshown in'FIGS. 9 and l0, like numeralsbeing used to Vdesignate like parts inthe embodiment of FIGS. 9, and l0, the parts specifically associated with that embodiment being identit-led .by the suixletterbf? Y VIn the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 1 0, the check valvedeining member 34h is specically'modilied to incorpo- "'rate la plug valve 58h which; is supportably mounted on spirally disposed'spring elements'eb.. It has been found 4:that the spring elements of this conguration Aare somewhatY softer in action requiring'less pressure'f to move A valve VSib 'into an opened condition-Ethan'corresponding springs otstraight configuration.A

In the arrangement of FIGS'. 9-and l0, the collarf48b Vis arranged to depend from the 'margins of4 shoulder b.

forfgripping engagement with theinterior ofcolurnn'ib.

' if" Inother important respects, the arrangementfof'FIGS. .9 'andlO functions similarlytothe arrangement ofi FIGS. 1 ,f

It is contemplated to cover by the appended claims the described embodiments and any modifications such as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

This invention is claimed as follows:

1. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a primary reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member defining a first fluid passageway of substantially fixed Volume communicating with said reservoir, said body member further defining a second fluid passageway of substantially fixed Volume communicating with an outlet for dispensing a fluid, said body member including a tubular wall separating said first fluid passageway from said second fluid passageway, said second passageway being of generally annular shape and surrounding the first fluid passageway; a pumping member defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicable with said first passageway and with said second passageway; a check valve-defining member supported by said tubular wall and including an annular deflectable flange extending radially from said tubular wall normally to separate the variable volume chamber from said second passageway; means providing arcuately spaced lands around said second passageway eXteriorly and spaced radially of said tubular wall and maintaining the corresponding areas of the outer edge of the deflectable flange fixed while permitting the outer edge of the. deflectable flange between the said lands to flex upon dispensing movement of the pumping member for charging fluid into the second passageway at plural areas around the periphery thereof; and check valve means attached to said check valve-defining member for controlling fluid flow through said first passageway, including a resiliently deformable, circular, vane-type valve.

2. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a primary reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member including a cup element having an outlet, arcuately spaced lands adjacent the internal periphery of said cup element and spaced from said outlet, and a central tubular column spaced radially inwardly from the lands, said body member defining a first fluid passageway communicating with said reservoir and further defining a second fluid passageway separate from said first passageway and communieating with said outlet for dispensing a fluid; a pumping member closing ofi one end of said cup element and defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicable with said first passageway and with said second passageway; first check valve means of controlling fluid flow through said first passageway, including a resiliently deformable, circular, vane-type Valve; and second check valve means controlling fluid flow through said second passageway, including a deflectable edge portion extending radially outwardly from said tubular column end disposed in contact with said spaced lands and supported inwardly from said lands by said tubular column, the parts of said edge portion between said lands dellecting under fluid pressure to pass fluid from said Variable volume chamber to said second passageway.

3. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a primary reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member including a cup element having an outlet, arcuately spaced lands adjacent the internal periphery of said cup element and spaced from said outlet, and a central tubular column spaced radially inwardly from the lands, said body member defining a first fluid'passageway communicating with said reservoir and further defining a second fluid passageway separate from said first passageway and communieating with said outlet for dispensing a fluid; a pumping member closing off one end of said ycup element and defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicable with said first passageway and with said second passageway; first check Valve means for controlling fluid flow through said second passageway, including an annular deflectable edge portion extending radially outwardly from said tubular column and disposed in contact with said spaced lands and supported inwardly from said lands by said tubular column, the parts of said edge portion between said lands deflecting under fluid pressure to pass fluid from said variable volume chamber to said second passageway; and second check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said first passageway, including a resiliently deformable, circular, vane-type valve disposed coplanarly with said first check valve means centrally thereof and further including rib means extending across said circular, vane-type valve to be connected thereto and to said first check valve means for defining a hinge whereby to permit said circular, vane-type valve to react by deflection to reduced pressure in said variable volume chamber Athereby opening said first passageway to said Variable volume chamber.

4. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a primary reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member including a cup element having an outlet, arcuately spaced lands adjacent the internal periphery of said cup element and spaced from said outlet, and a central tubular column spaced radially inwardly from the lands, said body member defining a first fluid passageway communicating with said reservoir and further defining a second fluid passageway separate from said first passageway and communieating with said outlet for dispensing a fluid; a pumping member closing off one end of said cup element and defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicable with said first passageway and with said second passageway; first check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said second passageway, including an annular deflectable edge portion extending radially outwardly from said tubular column and disposed in contact with said spaced lands and supported inwardly from said lands by said tubular column, the parts of said edge portion between said lands deflecting under fluid pressure to pass fluid from said variable volume chamber to said passageway; and second check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said first passageway, including a resiliently deformable, circular, vane-type valve disposed Coplanarly with said first check valve means centrally thereof, the distal edge of said circular, vane-type valve normally overlying the adjacent edges of said tubular column whereby to react to increased pressure in said variable Volume chamber by sealingly abutting said tubular column for closing off said first passageway from said variable volume chamber.

5. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a primary reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member including a cup element having an outlet and a central tubular column, said body member defining a first fluid passageway communicating with said reservoir and further defining a second fluid passageway separate from said first passageway and communicating with said outlet for dispensing a fluid; a pumping member closing ofi one y end of said cup element and defining a variable volume chamber selectively communicable with said first passageway and with said second passageway; first check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said second passageway, including an annular deflectablc edge portion dellecting under fluid pressure to pass fluid from said variable volume chamber to said second passageway; and second check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said first passageway, including a resiliently deformable, circular, vane-type valve disposed coplanarly with said first check valve means centrally Ithereof and further including rib means extending across said circular, vane-type valve to be connected thereto said first check valve means for defining a hinge whereby to permit said circular, vane-type valve to react by deflection to reduce pressure in said Variable volume chamber thereby opening said first passageway to said variable volume chamber.

6. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a prima1y reservoir, said dispenser comprising: a body member including a cup element having an outlet and a central tubular column, said body member defining a first fluid passageway communicating with said reservoir and Yfurther defining a second fluid passageway separate from said rst passageway andy communicating with said outlet for dispensing a iluid; a pumping member closing off one endv of said` cup element and defining a variable volume cham-V ber selectively communicable with said rst passageway and with said' second passageway; first check valve means for controlling fluid flow Vthrough said second passage- Vway,l including an annular deectablc edge portion de# fleeting under fluid pressure to pass fluid from said variable volume chamber to said second passageway; and second check valve means for controlling fluid flow through said rst passageway, including asresiliently deformable,

circular,v vane-type valve disposed coplanarly with said rst lcheck valve' means centrally thereof, tthe distal edge of said circular, vane-type valve normally' overlying the adjacent edges ofrrsaid tubular column-whereby'to'react to increasedv pressure 1inV said variable volume chamber by'sealingly abutting said tubular column forclosing off said first passageway. from said" variable volume chamber.

References Cited in the leof this patent i .y UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,317 'Kran July 31, 1951 2,853,210l Stewartret al. Sept. 23, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No 3,162,334 December 22, 1964 vChristian P. Miller It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as l corrected belo1 Column 5, line 46, for "of" read for Column 6, llne 35, after "said", second occurrence, insert second Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DISPENSER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A PRIMARY RESERVOIR, SAID DISPENSER COMPRISING: A BODY MEMBER DEFINING A FIRST FLUID PASSAGEWAY OF SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED VOLUME COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RESERVOIR, SAID BODY MEMBER FURTHER DEFINING A SECOND FLUID PASSAGEWAY OF SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED VOLUME COMMUNICATING WITH AN OUTLET FOR DISPENSING A FLUID, SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A TUBULAR WALL SEPARATING SAID FIRST FLUID PASSAGEWAY FROM SAID SECOND FLUID PASSAGEWAY, SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY BEING OF GENERALLY ANNULAR SHAPE AND SURROUNDING THE FIRST FLUID PASSAGEWAY; A PUMPING MEMBER DEFINING A VARIABLE VOLUME CHAMBER SELECTIVELY COMMUNICABLE WITH SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAY AND WITH SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY; A CHECK VALVE-DEFINING MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID TUBULAR WALL AND INCLUDING AN ANNULAR DEFLECTABLE FLANGE EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID TUBULAR WALL NORMALLY TO SEPARATE THE VARIABLE VOLUME CHAMBER FROM SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY; MEANS PROVIDING ARCUATELY SPACED LANDS AROUND SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY EXTERIORLY AND SPACED RADIALLY OF SAID TUBULAR WALL AND MAINTAINING THE CORRESPONDING AREAS OF THE OUTER EDGE OF THE DEFLECTABLE FLANGE FIXED WHILE PERMITTING THE OUTER EDGE OF THE DEFLECTABLE FLANGE BETWEEN THE SAID LANDS TO FLEX UPON DISPENSING MOVEMENT OF THE PUMPING MEMBER FOR CHARGING FLUID INTO THE SECOND PASSAGEWAY AT PLURAL AREAS AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF; AND CHECK VALVE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID CHECK VALVE-DEFINING MEMBER FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAY, INCLUDING A RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE, CIRCULAR, VANE-TYPE VALVE. 